Korn Ferry(KFY) - 2026 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The consolidated fee revenue grew 7% to $717 million, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of accelerating year-over-year growth [11] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by $9 million or 7.5% to $123 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.2%, up 10 basis points [11] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share rose by $0.09 or 8% to $1.28 [11] - Total company new business, excluding RPO, grew 11%, with consulting and digital reaching all-time quarterly highs [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The interim portion of the PS&I solution grew 4%, benefiting from new business referrals [14] - Subscription and licensed new business grew 30% year-over-year, accounting for 43% of Digital's total new business [15] - Average hourly bill rates for consulting and interim grew by 2% and 15% respectively, indicating high client value [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fee revenue in the Americas increased by 6%, led by growth in executive search and RPO [16] - EMEA fee revenue grew 13%, with double-digit growth in executive search, consulting, digital, and PS&I [16] - APAC fee revenue declined slightly by 2%, with growth in executive search offset by weakness in other solutions [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on deepening relationships with existing clients, aiming to increase the number of solutions provided to the top 4,500 clients that represent 90% of revenue [7][17] - The "We Are Korn Ferry" initiative aims to unify the company's approach and enhance client centricity [7] - The company is leveraging its Talent Suite to provide data-driven insights for talent management, positioning itself as a leader in the evolving labor market [9][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the ongoing labor supply imbalance and the critical role of technology and AI in addressing workforce challenges [5][6] - The company expects fee revenue in Q4 FY 2026 to range from $730 million to $750 million, with adjusted EBITDA margins between 17.1% and 17.3% [16] - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to continue driving top-line growth despite challenging market conditions [10][14] Other Important Information - The board approved a 15% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.55 per share, marking the seventh increase in six years [13] - Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts at the end of the quarter were $1.85 billion, up 11% year-over-year [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: How do you see AI impacting Korn Ferry? - Management believes AI will drive efficiency and create more opportunities, particularly for high-end labor talent [20][22] Question: Can the company grow in an environment of higher unemployment? - Management noted the diversified business model allows for growth even in challenging labor market conditions [26][27] Question: Will Talent Suite deepen existing relationships or expand into new ones? - Management indicated that Talent Suite is primarily aimed at deepening existing client relationships [30] Question: What are the demand trends in the interim business? - Management reported a slight uptick in demand and emphasized the importance of high-end talent solutions [42][44] Question: How is the company approaching technology spending? - Management indicated a balanced approach to capital deployment, with a focus on technology investments [39][40] Question: What is the outlook for margin expansion? - Management expects margins to remain in the 16%-18% range, influenced by M&A execution and interim market opportunities [61] Question: How long until client behavior changes due to current economic conditions? - Management suggested it may take about 90 days to assess the impact of recent geopolitical events on client behavior [80]